Boronic acid networking agents and associated methods

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of increasing the viscosity of a treatment fluid comprising the steps of: adding a networking agent to the treatment fluid, wherein the networking agent is represented by the formula: Y—X—[B(OR)2]n, wherein: Y is at least partially capable of forming a crosslink between a gelling agent molecule, a second networking agent, and/or a combination thereof; X is at least partially capable of preventing or inhibiting a reaction represented by the formula: ROH+R′B(OR)2→R′OH+B(OR)3; R and R′ are a hydrogen, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a combination thereof; and n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1; allowing at least one crosslink to form between the networking agent and a gelling agent molecule, a second networking agent, and/or a combination thereof; and allowing the viscosity of the treatment fluid to increase. Methods of treating a portion of a subterranean formation, networking agent compositions, and treatment fluid compositions also are provided.

1. A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation comprising:
 providing a viscosified treatment fluid that comprises an aqueous-based fluid and a networking agent, wherein the networking agent comprises a boronic acid group and is represented by the formula: Y—X—[B(OR) 2 ] n , wherein
 Y is at least partially capable of forming a crosslink between at least one member selected from the group consisting of a gelling agent molecule and a second networking agent, 
 X is at least partially capable of preventing or inhibiting a reaction represented by the formula: ROH+R′B(OR) 2 →R′OH+B(OR) 3 , and comprises a compound represented by the formula 
 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein q is a positive integer greater or equal to 1 or a compound represented by the formula 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein r is a positive integer greater or equal to 1,
   R and R′ are independently selectable from the group consisting of a hydrogen, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a combination thereof,   the boronic acid group comprises at least one group selected from the group consisting of: an alkyl group, an aryl group, and a combination thereof, and   n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1; and treating a portion of the subterranean formation.   
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein n is in the range of from about 1 to about 30. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein Y comprises at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a carboxylic acid group, a derivative of a carboxylic acid group, a sulfate group, a sulfonate group, a phosphate group, a phosphonate group, an amino group, and an amidecarboxyl group. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein Y comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of: a polymer, an oligomer of the polymer, and a monomer of the polymer. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  wherein the polymer comprises a synthetic polymer, or a polysaccharide. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein X comprises a compound represented by the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein q is a positive integer greater or equal to 1. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein X comprises a compound represented by the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein r is a positive integer greater or equal to 1. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein the aqueous-based fluid comprises at least one fluid selected from the group consisting of: fresh water, salt water, brine, seawater, and a derivative thereof. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein the viscosified treatment fluid comprises a crosslinked networking agent. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein the crosslinked networking agent comprises at least one molecule selected from the group consisting of a networking agent molecule and a gelling agent molecule. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  wherein the networking agent is present in the viscosified treatment fluid in the range of from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the aqueous-based fluid therein. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  wherein the viscosified treatment fluid further comprises a gelling agent. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein the gelling agent comprises at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of: a hydroxyl group, a cis-hydroxyl group, a carboxylic acid, a derivative of a carboxylic acid, a sulfate group, a sulfonate group, a phosphate group, a phosphonate group, an amino group, and an amide group. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  wherein the gelling agent comprises at least one polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of guar gum, a derivative of guar gum, hydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar, a cellulose derivative, and hydroxyethyl cellulose. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12  wherein the gelling agent comprises at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyvinylpyrrolidone. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12  wherein the gelling agent is present in an amount in the range of from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the aqueous-based fluid therein. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1  wherein the viscosified treatment fluid comprises a crosslinking agent. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  wherein the crosslinking agent is capable of crosslinking gelling agent molecules, networking agent molecules, or both networking agent molecules and gelling agent molecules. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17  wherein the crosslinking agent comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: a boron compound, a zirconium compound, a titanium compound, an aluminum compound, an antimony compound, a chromium compound, an iron compound, a copper compound, and a zinc compound. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17  wherein the crosslinking agent is present in an amount in the range from about 0.001% to about 10% by weight of the aqueous-based fluid therein. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 1  wherein the viscosified treatment fluid comprises a crosslinked gelling agent. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21  wherein the crosslinked gelling agent is formed from a reaction comprising a gelling agent molecule and a crosslinking agent. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 1  wherein the viscosified treatment fluid further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a pH adjusting agent, a buffer, a breaker, a delinker, a surfactant, a scale inhibitor, a clay stabilizer, a silicate-control agent, a gas, an antifoaming agent, a foaming agent, a storage stabilizer, a biocide, and a biostatic agent. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 1  wherein the viscosified treatment fluid further comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: sand; nut shells; seed shells; resinous materials; a combination of nut shells or seed shells with a resinous material; bauxite; ceramic materials; glass materials; polymeric materials; polytetrafluoroethylene materials; fruit pits; processed wood; and composite particulates prepared from a binder and filler particulates. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 1  wherein the treating the portion of the subterranean formation involves a fracturing or gravel packing operation. 
     
     
       26. A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation comprising:
 providing a viscosified treatment fluid that comprises an aqueous-based fluid and a networking agent, wherein the networking agent is represented by the formula: Y—X—[B(OR) 2 ] n , wherein
 Y is at least partially capable of forming a crosslink between at least one member selected from the group consisting of a gelling agent molecule and a second networking agent, 
 X comprises at least one compound represented by at least one formula selected from the group consisting of: 
 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           R is independently selectable from the group consisting of a hydrogen, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a combination thereof, and 
           n, q, and r are independently selectable from a positive integer greater than or equal to 1; and 
         
         treating a portion of the subterranean formation. 
       
     
     
       27. A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation comprising: providing a viscosified treatment fluid that comprises an aqueous-based fluid and a networking agent, wherein the networking agent comprises a compound represented by the following formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and treating a portion of the subterranean formation.